Arthashastra — Abhiyasyatkarma, Sutra 15
Devanagari script
दूष्याननुप्रविष्टा वा तीक्ष्णाः शस्त्ररसाभ्यां हन्युः ॥ कZ_०९.५.१५ ॥
Transliteration
dūṣyān anupraviṣṭā vā tīkṣṇāḥ śastrarasābhyāṃ hanyuḥ
Translation
或者，已渗透进被抓住把柄者之中的精干密探，应以武器或毒药杀死（目标）。
Word by Word
दूष्याःcompromised/turned (agents)
दूष्याः:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootदूष्य
Formप्रथमा बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः (विशेषण-रूपेण)
अनुप्रविष्टाःhaving infiltrated / having entered in (after/along)
अनुप्रविष्टाः:
TypeParticiple
Rootअनु-प्र-√विश्
Formभूतकृदन्तः (क्त), प्रथमा बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः
वाor
वा:
TypeParticle
Rootवा
Formविकल्पार्थक निपात
तीक्ष्णाःfierce/keen (assassins/operatives)
तीक्ष्णाः:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootतीक्ष्ण
Formप्रथमा बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः (विशेषण-रूपेण)
शस्त्रwith a weapon
शस्त्र:
TypeNoun
Rootशस्त्र
Formतृतीया एकवचनम्, नपुंसकलिङ्गः (करणे)
रसाभ्याम्with poison/poison-juice (lit. ‘juices’)
रसाभ्याम्:
TypeNoun
Rootरस
Formतृतीया द्विवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः (करणे)
हन्युःthey should kill / may strike down
हन्युः:
TypeVerb
Root√हन्
Formलिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्
Entities Mentioned
T
tīkṣṇa (ruthless agent)FAQs
It represents escalation when conciliation/co-option fails or when the threat is acute; Kautilya presents a graduated toolkit.
Two covert modalities: overt-looking violence (weapon) or deniable killing (poison), chosen for feasibility and concealment.